Traffic light magnet?

Suzuki new guy! · May 24, 2005

We've all experienced the never ending wait at lights that refuse to recognize that we're stopped for the red. I've seen many, many items for sale that supposedly force the in ground magnet to recognize our bike.
Anybody have any experience or suggestions for where to buy?
Appreciate any feedback.

rmcelroy · May 24, 2005

ive never used one or seen one personally, so sorry i cant be much help there.

but i do know of the frustration encountered by lights. i usually wind up running them if there is no one around. if there are only a few drivers around then i will watch the perpindicular traffic light, wait for it to turn yellow, make sure there is no one that is about to speed up through a yellow light, then I go. (like if i am in a turning lane and i know the turn signal wont come on)

if there is heavy traffic, then i usually make a right turn, then make a U turn, then either make another right (if i was trying to go straight) ir continue straight (if i was trying to make a left)

i dunno if that made any sence or not... but whatever.

themeatmanlandry · May 24, 2005

Gixxerdale has installed a rare earth magnet in his boot to handle stubborn traffic lights.

You COULD just move to TN . . . we can treat them like stop signs here!!

viper94bite · May 24, 2005

I thought all traffic light were optional.........j/k

SuzukiGirl1 · May 24, 2005

rmcelroy said:
i usually wind up running them if there is no one around. if there are only a few drivers around then i will watch the perpindicular traffic light, wait for it to turn yellow, make sure there is no one that is about to speed up through a yellow light, then I go.

In MN, they have a law just for motorcycles...it's okay to go even if the light hasn't turned if you've waited a "reasonable amount of time". So, basically, if you wait through one cycle and it doesn't turn for you, you can go as soon as you're available.

axel_2078 · May 24, 2005

SuzukiGirl1 said:
In MN, they have a law just for motorcycles...it's okay to go even if the light hasn't turned if you've waited a "reasonable amount of time". So, basically, if you wait through one cycle and it doesn't turn for you, you can go as soon as you're available.

I believe many states have a law that if the light doesn't want to turn green for you after a reasonable amount of time and you believe the light to be defective, you can legally make your turn.

Hayaboosta · May 24, 2005

Here in Mass most of the lights are activated by weight switches, I had one on my 03 750 shadow and at most lights it didn't work being they had been changed over to weight activated switches.

themeatmanlandry · May 24, 2005

In TN, the light has to be sensored, you have to have waited a 'reasonable' amount of time, you have to believe that the light isn't going to change for you (i.e. you're not sitting next to a car at the light that will trigger it), and you have to proceed safely, as if you were leaving a stop sign at an intersection (where the cross traffic doesn't stop).

Right after they passed the rule, a moron came up beside me at the light all excited, asking if I knew about the law. As I tried to explain it to him, he looked at me like I was speaking Swahili. Then, he revved it up, shook his head (like I was the idiot :roll: ) and took off.

The light we were sitting at was a timed light. :|

Suzuki new guy! · May 24, 2005

So that seems to be the story here? Blow the light, go out of your way and make a U turn or do something dumb?
Perhaps I'm an optimist but there's got to be a better answer.

semnole13 · May 24, 2005

themeatmanlandry said:
Gixxerdale has installed a rare earth magnet in his boot to handle stubborn traffic lights.

You COULD just move to TN . . . we can treat them like stop signs here!!

Laughing, I know what you mean.

rmcelroy · May 24, 2005

Suzuki new guy! said:
So that seems to be the story here? Blow the light, go out of your way and make a U turn or do something dumb?
Perhaps I'm an optimist but there's got to be a better answer.

no, actually it seems like what most people do here are wait for the light a "reasonable amount of time" then when it becomes apparent that the light is not going to change then it has to be "blown". and that is well within the law.

i said if i am in havy traffic, then i have to do "something dumb" like go out of my way and make a U turn.

but uhh, if you find one of those revolutionary automatic light changers and it works for you, then by all means, let us know.

md2lgyk · May 24, 2005

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=GLTRIG

St0nkingByte · May 24, 2005

I saw some of these at a bike show. So tiny, I think my kids probably have bigger magnets in their toyboxes. They also didn't seem very powerful even when two were stuck together between their little cardboard boxes.

I've got some magnets taken out of an old hard disk laying around somewhere. They can make a TV or monitor turn colors from 2-3 feet away. If I can figure out where I put them I was thinking about zip tying one or two of them to the bottom of my bike.

That said when I approach I detector loop I try to run up one side or the other of it, what I mean is right over the edge of the loop and it seems to work for me. Since I started doing that I don't seem to get stuck at a light anymore.

Gixxerdale · May 25, 2005

St0nkingByte said:
I've got some magnets taken out of an old hard disk laying around somewhere. They can make a TV or monitor turn colors from 2-3 feet away. If I can figure out where I put them I was thinking about zip tying one or two of them to the bottom of my bike.

Then you can collect all nails screws and scrap metal your front tire missed! Just hope it doesn't fall off for your rear tire to find! :mrgreen:

QuacktheDuck · May 25, 2005

well i doubted it too...but I got one for my old sv650 after i got sick of sitting at lights. I knew it was just a magnet, but 10 bucks isn't much of an investment so why the heck not. I attached it to the sidestand and never got stuck at a light again...dead serious.

Clint · May 25, 2005

http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5928&highlight=magnet

inspiron · May 25, 2005

Sheesh ... you guys have it easy. In Zurich, almost every intersection with a signal is equipped with cameras. If you "run" the light (even if you stop, then proceed because the light isn't changing), they take your picture, and send you a bill for about $200.

viper94bite · May 25, 2005

I hear they are trying this in more places these days. There were a few of them in phoenix. They tried to put some here in omaha. One of our city council people fought if down though. so no cameras=yay

frogsyko · May 25, 2005

inspiron said:
Sheesh ... you guys have it easy. In Zurich, almost every intersection with a signal is equipped with cameras. If you "run" the light (even if you stop, then proceed because the light isn't changing), they take your picture, and send you a bill for about $200.

+1

themeatmanlandry · May 25, 2005

inspiron said:
Sheesh ... you guys have it easy. In Zurich, almost every intersection with a signal is equipped with cameras. If you "run" the light (even if you stop, then proceed because the light isn't changing), they take your picture, and send you a bill for about $200.

Hmmm . . . my history book says the Nazis LOST that war.

Traffic light magnet?

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